William and Kate join commemoration for WWI heroes to mark 100th anniversary of First World War outbreak

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge with Queen Mathilde of Belgium and King Philippe

Prince William today spoke of the “power of reconciliation” as he and the Duchess of Cambridge joined world leaders in Liège to mark the 100th anniversary of the outbreak of the First World War.

To an audience including German and Austrian presidents Joachim Gauck and Heinz Fischer he said: “We were enemies more than once in the last century, and today we are friends and allies. We salute those who died to give us our freedom. We will remember them.”

William also praised how, as Europeans, we had worked together to promote “democracy, prosperity, the rule of law” and “shared values” around the world.

World War 1 in London - pictures

World War 1 in London - pictures

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Heading to the front line

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July 1915

Crowds gathered in the streets of Shoreditch after a zeppelin raid on the area

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November 11, 1920.

The coffin of an unknown fallen soldier is carried in procession to its final resting place at the Cenotaph in Whitehall

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July 1915

A wrecked house in Shoreditch after a Zeppelin raid

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Caring hands

Volunteer nurses with a wounded soldier from the London Scottish Regiment and Matron Richardson

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November 1915

British soldiers inspecting a captured German plane at Horseguards' Parade

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1918

Peace celebrations in the East End at the end of the First World War

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1914

Members of the London Scottish Regiment undertake rifle drill

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December 1915

A crowd of young men queuing at the Army Recruiting Office at Southwark Hall

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August 1914

Grenadier Guards being watched by a crowd as they leave Wellington Barracks in London for active service in France at the beginning of World War I

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1920

A 1911 B-type bus No. B43 flanked by standard bearers in the Armistice Day parade of 1920when wreaths were laid at bus stations and garages across London in memory of the transport workers who died in the First World War

Speaking at a service at the Cointe Inter-Allied Memorial, he said: “The fact that, Mr Presidents, you are here today to represent Germany and Austria, and that other nations, then enemies, are here too, bears testimony to the power of reconciliation.

“Not only is war between us unthinkable, but former adversaries have worked together for three generations to spread and entrench democracy, prosperity and the rule of law across Europe, and to promote our shared values around the world.”

Laura Hutchinson walks thoughtfully through the work at the Tower of London Picture: Glenn Copus

The royal couple were welcomed to Liège by King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium at the former Benedictine monastery L’Abbaye Saint-Laurent, and the prince spoke passionately about the impact of war and praised the Belgian people for their courage. He said: “The peace that we here enjoy together as allies and partners does not simply mean no more bloodshed — it means something deeper than that.”

He noted that just days before the outbreak of war people from all over Europe were enjoying themselves together on Belgian beaches along with German holidaymakers.

He said: “During four terrible years, those same Europeans were engulfed by killing and destruction. Among the very first victims were the people of Belgium, whose resistance was as gallant as their suffering was great.

“The magnificent war memorial where we gather today honours the city of Liège and its people for their courageous resistance in 1914. The memorial — and this ceremony — also honours all Belgians, who fought, suffered and died in the Great War.

“Your great sacrifice and your contribution to eventual victory was pivotal. Belgium’s resistance in 1914 allowed the Allies to re-group and draw up the battle lines which became the infamous trenches.

“These trenches have left an indelible scar on your land — they speak of the horrors of war but also of your forebears’ courage.”

Later today William and Kate were attending events in Mons — the scene of a do-or-die rearguard action by British troops later in August 1914, and also the place where the last British soldier was killed on November 11, 1918.

The Mons ceremony will focus on the small military cemetery of St Symphorien, where 229 Commonwealth and 284 German solders were buried together.

Prince Harry was joining William and Kate there after attending the “Step Short” remembrance event in Folkestone to observe the centenary.

He unveiled a Memorial Arch, laid a wreath at the War Memorial and took the salute of a military and civilian parade.

Tomorrow the trio will be at the Tower of London to see the memorial poppy installation in the moat.

When war broke out Liège was Imperial Germany’s first obstacle. Its short but brave resistance remains a source of Belgian pride. It caused just enough delay to halt Germany’s quick-victory war plans.

Reduced to rubble, Liège paid heavily for its sacrifice, but its bravery was such that France awarded the city the prestigious Légion d’Honneur.

It was the German invasion of Belgium that formally brought Britain into the war, the last link in a chain of interlocking alliances that were meant to preserve the peace but instead plunged Europe into the abyss.

“The lamps are going out all over Europe. We shall not see them lit again in our time,” lamented British foreign secretary Sir Edward Grey as Berlin rejected London’s ultimatum to respect Belgian neutrality on August 4.

By the end of the war 10 million troops were dead plus 20 million injured and untold millions of civilian victims; empires toppled and the world was remade.

Yesterday, the 100th anniversary of Germany’s declaration of war on France, French president François Hollande and Mr Gauck remembered 30,000 soldiers killed fighting over the rocky peak of Hartmannswillerkopf in the French border province of Alsace.